They were farmers whose military service took place during a conflict that divided this country. Now they are being recognized for their efforts in the Civil War, thanks to three descendants.

Lloyd Huckstep of Hanover and his cousins, Coleman Duesberry of Mechanicsville and Richard Duesberry of Harleysville, Pa., recently took possession of four markers that will designate their ancestors for their military service in the Confederacy.

Through his maternal grandparents, Lloyd became aware of the service record of his great-grandfathers. He also learned that their graves were marked by stone markers, with nothing denoting the time they gave to the Confederate States of America in the 1860s.

All four farmer-soldiers enlisted, with two serving four years and two serving two.

Weighing 230 pounds and costing $800 each, the markers will be placed in Caroline, Hanover and King William counties. The family agreed not to disclose the exact locations.

Recalling how the cousins decided to pursue what they considered to be proper acknowledgement for their ancestors’ military service, Lloyd said “Family records in three counties were preserved and show the cemeteries were described and diagrammed in some old letters.”

He said they knew “which ancestors were buried in these areas, so the Department of Veterans Affairs provides headstones for military family members where none has been provided when no headstones exist free of charge.”

Lloyd’s own interest in his family’s history dates back to the age of 4, when his grandparents started sharing stories of the past.

“I just recently found out from my historical mentors — Herbert Collins, formerly of the Smithsonian Institution, and Steve Colvin, a local historian — that I could order the stones from the government,” Lloyd said.

The Hanover Courthouse Road resident said pursuit of the markers “requires filling out a form and providing service records as proof that they served in any branch of the military at any time. There is no statute of limitations, so the cousins and I decided that we would order and place the headstones on these family members [graves] who had military service.”

He also said Virginia has “a statute called Code 57-27.1 that allows access to cemeteries on private properties by family members.

“The more important aspect is to preserve the cemeteries that are in our local areas so that they are not destroyed by development. That’s the main thing.”

Lloyd, who is president of the King William Historical Society, said “one of the main focus areas is in location and preservation of Colonial to current day cemeteries.”

Referring to the development issue, he said, “Most of the developers are very prudent and very helpful in trying or helping family members locate any graveyard activities that are on their properties.”

“In my case,” he continued, “the properties are owned by developer Darrel Kellum. Mr. Kellum was most helpful and gracious about allowing the cleanup of a cemetery on his property.”

Lloyd said “Developers try to do a good job, but the onus is on family members to take an active interest to let developers know that they have cemeteries in areas for development.”

“It’s important for this generation to do that because the longer they lay unidentified, the harder it is to prove them out,” he added.

“These guys, for the most part, died 30 to 40 years after the Civil War and were farmers,” Lloyd said. “The Civil War was a small part of their lives, with the exception of one who was a captured POW (Prisoner of War) at Point Lookout, Md.

“We thought it was important to honor their military service. Since this has worked so well, I will endeavor to acquire more headstones for other relatives who served in the American Revolution,” he said.

“The bottom line,” Lloyd said, “is please go find your families’ graveyards. It is a moral obligation [that we] take some action to preserve [our families’ histories].”

For Lloyd and his cousins, the process took four months to complete. The federal form is QMV 2900-0222 that must include the periods of military duty.

Lloyd said the Virginia Historical Society has a program called “Footnote” that helps in finding military records. “Service records, pay stubs, regimental history are provided to place in the form.”

A funeral home must first take possession of the markers when the government delivers them. Storke Funeral Home in Bowling Green handled that aspect for Lloyd, Coleman and Richard.

With the recognition they pursued to honor their great-grandfathers, the cousins already have another generation taking interest in their family history. Richard’s 12-year-old son Nicholas has proudly accepted the role of sharing the stories and photographs of their past.